THE PANOLIAN / BASKETBALL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016 C5
Young but experienced players to lead ND girls team
By Brad Greer
If anyone was surprised by the
success of North Delta girl's basketball season last year it would be
head coach Harrison Nickle. After
all, a majority of the team was not
old enough to receive their driver licence yet.
"We had one starter returning from
the year before and I really didn't
know what to expect because of our
inexperience and did not know what
to set as our goals. We deÀnitely over
achieved. I didn't expect to take a
bunch of seventh and eighth graders
and make it to the North State tournament," said Nickle, who also doubles as the junior high girls coach.
North Delta ended up raising a
few eyebrows by Ànishing 18-9 and
second place behind a powerful Kirk
squad that advanced to the MAIS
Overall State tournament. The Lady
Wave saw its season end with a tough
overtime loss to RiverÀeld, La. in the
North AAA State tournament.
While the youthfulness still may
be there, the experience of playing
at the high school level proved to be
great deviances for a roster that in- ford and Isabella Morrow, will round
cludes one senior, four juniors, Àve out the starting Àve. Alford led the
freshman and two eighth graders.
team in scoring while receiving AllTo make matters
District honmore intriguing is the
ors.
fact that a majority of
Honorthe varsity team also
able-Mensuits up for the junior
tion
selechigh squad.
tion
Mary
"It was a very tough
Emily Morsituation to be sweating
ris will also
out these junior high
be counted
games when knowing
on but is
these girls also will be
out of action
playing a varsity game
until Januin about an hour or
ary
while
so later. You just got
recuperating
from shoulto know when to rest
der surgery.
them. It is a game by
Juniors
game thing and we'll
Maci Kirkhave that same apNorth Delta Girls Head Coach
land,
Payproach this year," said
Harrison Nickle
ton
Scott
Nickle.
and Hanna
Leading the charge
Stoddard
for North Delta this
season will be freshman twin sisters, will also see playing time. Emy Cay
Faith and Hannah Bollinger, along Donaldson, Sayle Stennett and Haiwith fellow freshman, Blakely Den- ley Rikard also will see time on the
ham. Two eighth graders, Ally Al- hardwood.
North Delta boasts 13
players on roster this season
By Brad Greer
North Delta boys head basketball
coach Robert Daniels and his assistant
Chris Herring felt lonely at times sitting on the bench last season.
"There were times I looked down
the bench and it would be me, Coach
Herring and two players sitting there.
We didn't have enough players to run
Àve-on-Àve during practice," said
Daniels, who is returning for his second season as head coach.
Depth should not be a problem this
year for Green Wave as 13 players Àll
the roster. Another key element for the
Wave will be all Àve starters return
from last season's 7-15 squad.
"The kids have been working hard,
lifting weights and getting stronger,
That was something that hurt us last
year is we got pushed around a lot so
hopefully that will be an improved
area for us this year," said Daniels.
The senior trio of Joseph Cox, Ely
Bryant and Avery Rowland along with
juniors Cole Devazier and Alex Greenlee will make up the starting Àve for
North Delta.
Juniors Nelson Howell, Miles Garner, Luke Lewis and Luke Daniels will
also provide valuable minutes. Sophomores Chris BurchÀeld, Carter Gee,
Brunson Wolfe and Ripkin Mitchell
round out the roster.
"Coach Herring and I both talked
about it and decided to go with those
starting Àve we had from last season
and sub them out with the next group.
Once we Àgure out who the best seven
or eight are, we will go from there. We
want to use the non-district games to
mix and match and Ànd out the right
combination which suits us best when
district play starts," said Daniels.
North Delta opened the season last
night at home against Lee, Ark. with
their Àrst district game Dec. 3 at home
versus Indianola Academy.
Nickle said Kirkland should provide some help with some height in
the middle and has improved greatly
with her individual skills.
"Maci will give us more of an inside presence in the middle. She is
new to the game but is picking up
things every day at practice. She is
very athletic for someone her size,"
said Nickle.
While Kirk expects be the frontrunner in District 1-AAA, Nickle
sees the Lady Wave near the top of
the district standings.
"Kirk should be just as strong as
they were last year. I feel like we
are a year away from competing
for the top spot in district. Do we
respect them? Yes. Are we going to
back down from them? No. We are
just going to lace up our shoes every
night and give it our best shot and
see what happens," said Nickle.
North Delta opened the season
last Thursday against Lee, Ark before
hosting Desoto, Ark. Monday night.
Tonight they travel cross county to
Batesville Jr. High for games starting
at 5 p.m.